H 3622 General Bill, By Harvin
 A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 7, TITLE 52, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976,
 RELATING TO AMUSEMENTS AND ATHLETIC CONTESTS AND STATE AND COUNTY ATHLETIC
 COMMISSIONS BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITED CIVIL LIABILITY
 FOR SPORTS OFFICIALS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS ACT TO
 CERTAIN LAWSUITS.

   03/11/97  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-5
   03/11/97  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary HJ-5

TO AMEND CHAPTER 7, TITLE 52, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO AMUSEMENTS AND ATHLETIC CONTESTS AND STATE AND COUNTY ATHLETIC COMMISSIONS BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR LIMITED CIVIL LIABILITY FOR SPORTS OFFICIALS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICABILITY OF THIS ACT TO CERTAIN LAWSUITS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Title 52 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

Section 52-7-510. Sports officials who officiate athletic contests at any level of competition in this State are not liable to any person or entity in any civil action for injuries or damages claimed to have arisen by virtue of actions or inactions related in any manner to officiating duties within the confines of the athletic facility at which the athletic contest is played.

Section 52-7-520. For purposes of this article, sports officials are defined as those individuals who serve as referees, umpires, and linesmen, and those who serve in similar capacities but who may be known by other titles, and are duly registered or members of a local, state, regional, or national organization which is engaged in part in providing education and training to sports officials.

Section 52-7-530. Nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to grant the protection provided by this article to sports officials who cause injury or damage to a person or entity by actions or inactions which are intentional, wilful, wanton, reckless, malicious, or grossly negligent."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies to all lawsuits filed after the effective date of this act, including those which allege actions or inactions of sports officials which occurred prior to the effective date of this act.